The Saline County journal. [volume] (Salina, Kan.) 1871-1893, 1887-05-26
rHE DRY CREEK MYSTERY.

u is Undoubtedly y Case OF suieIde-Fm
thsr Particulars In the Case.
The absorbing interest manifested
In the Dry Greek affair Il onl
equalled by the profound mystery
that envelopes the whole matter.
The question Of who it can be has
been discussed on the streets and In
the family circle, but as yet no salts
factory conclusion has been reached,
and the identity Of the poor unfor-
tunate creature as yet is unknown
But the facts strongly indicate that
II was ease Of suicide. The torn
pieces Of money scattered around.
the lack OF any papers on his person,
his jewelry destrOyed-part Of II
stamped deep in the earth, evidently
by the victims right heel-all point
to the conclusion that he was tired
Of life, aud had sought that secluded
spot to end his days. first destroying
all his belongings, and everything
that might lead TO his personality.
He was evidently q man who had
seen the better side Of life, and his
dress and torn pieces Of money
would indicate that he was not IN
financial distress. He had brown
hair, small mOustache, weight
about 1856 pounds and was
five feet ten or eleven inches in
height; he wore q dark brown check
ed suit, stiff hat, and laced shoes;
on the little finger Of his left hand
he wore q plain gold ring, and his
watch was q solid silver hunting
case, with gold hinges; the little
finger Of his right hand was crooked,
evidently having been hurt at some
time, and was stiff; he probably
was some where between twenty
five and forty years Of age.
The cOrOner's jury examined sew
eral witness yesterday morning;
among the number were Misses
Maggie Flanders, Ruth Wagstafi !
and Grace Hull, were with the party |
who found the body las; Saturday
evening. Maggie Flanders said that
two wesks ago last Thursday, the
nth inst, party Of school children
were out in the vicinity Of Dry
creek bridge. Herself, Ruth WAg-
staff and Grace Hull were together
south Of the bridge and discovered
Dr a man what they thought was q
! man, sitting down and leaning
against a tree. Would not be positive
hat he moved or that It was q man.
they were so frightened that
hey took their dinners and ran.
We're not there again until last Sat
lrday, when the discovery was made.
The other girls cOrrObOrated her
In the afternoon the coroner and
ury again visited the scene, making
thorough investigation Of the
urrOundlngs. They found some
rOken pieces Of q lOcket embedded
n the ground, and some distance
rom where the body was found,
Dwards the ford, was discovered
Dme torn pieces Of an old nuvspap- 1
T, probably the Kansas City NesUs, I
nd on one Of them wss q yellow /
lOel with the name "a. A. Lay" I
rinted on. 4
After examining the ground the 4
Try returned to the city and exam \
led Val. EbeFhardt and g. P. O
riggs, Whose tools were found on +
he banks Of the creek last Saturday,, b
carpenter who is working on Shuts
Haskell's slaughter house, but 4
Othing Of material interest was de- o
slOPed, and after mature tlellbera- !
on, the jury rendered the following y
srdiet:
TATE or KAEsAs,l n
SALINE COUNTY. d
An lnqulsitiOn holden at the city 4
Salina, In said county and state, n
the 2lst day Of May, A. D., 1887, n
I'D continued and adjourned from
~ TO day and up 10 this the 2Sd day
May, A. D., 1881, before me, II. J. n
rOwn, coroner Of said county, on q
le body Of an unknown male per A
N, there lying dead, by the Jurors q
hose name are hereto subscribed. I
he Jurors upon their caths do say c
lat said person came 70 his death G
D or about the 18th day e May, A. n
;, 1881, by his own h6nds, By and o
tth certain deadly weapon, to- n
IL: A revolver loaded with
an powder and divers ieaden q
lllets, whleh be In hia hands
len aud thsBe had and hel6,